Portable back supporting device



Aug. 19, 1952 G. E. w1Tz, 2,607,400

PORTABLE BACK SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed NOV. 25, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 INVENTOR.

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board, composition board, or plastic or metal sheet stock, which panels are pivotably and swingably connected together at the portions corresponding to the scores I6, I8 and 28. For this purpose conventional metal hinges may be employed, or any other hinging means. Thus an alternative hinging means might constitute a piece of cloth or sturdy flexible sheet material anchored or bonded at its opposite" marginal portions to the, margins of the adjacent panels and accommodating by its flexibility the desired relative swinging movement of the panels connected thereby. Also it will be apparent that, while the blanks as illustrated are provided at each side thereof with three wing panels, such as the Wing flanges 22, 24 and 26 at each side of the seat, and the flanges 32, 3 4 and 38 at each side of the back, this number of blanks is illustrative and either a greater or lesser number of said wing flanges may be employed.

Each of the blanks i and I2 is providedwith .a plurality of slots arranged in a transverse curved series in each blank and with the slots in the two panels preferably arranged similarly so as substantially to register when the blanks are folded to collapsed position. It will be understood, however, that the exact similarity or identity of position of the slots in the two panels I!) and I2, while preferred, is not essential or critical.

In the form illustrated, each of the panel portions 20 and 30 has a pair of slots 50 formed therein in substantially parallel relation adjacent to and parallel to the scores which. define said panel portions. Thus, as seen in Fig. 3, the slots 40 are positioned adjacent to and parallel to the scores 28 in the back panel 30. The slots 40 are of the same length and preferably are positioned adjacent'to the free edge of the panels I0 and I2, as here shown being positioned with the ratio of the spacing between the free edge thereof and the edge joined to the score I6 being substantially one to three.

Each of the panel wing portions 22 and 32 has formed therein a slot 42 which is positioned diagonally relative to the scores which define the respective panel wing portions. The slots 42 are spaced from the free edges of the panels Ill and I2 a distance greater than the spacing of the :slots 40 from the free edges of said panels. Each of the panel wing portions 24 and 34 has formed therein a slot 44 disposed diagonally relative to the scores which define the respective panel wing portions. The slots 44 are displaced angularly from parallel relation to the slots 42 by only a few degrees andare spaced between and from the hinged edges of the panels Ill and I2 in a more nearly central position than the slots- 42. The outer wing panel portions 26 and 36 have diagonal slots 46 formed therein which are displaced from parallel relationrto slots 44 by only a few degrees and which are preferably disposed slightly closer to the hinged edge portions'of the panels I0 and I2 than to the free edge portions thereof.

An elongated web or strap 48 of strong flexible material and of a width substantially equal to the length of the slots it-46 is threaded through said slots. This strap may be formed of leather, woven fabric belting or any other materialfound suitable, and preferably the material should have a very small elasticity or extensibility, or none whatever. The strap is preferably threaded through the various slots in the manner illustrated, wherein the portions-of" the strap extend ing between the slots 40 are positioned along .wardly from the slots 46 to the adjacent edges of the panels being positioned at the outer faces of the panels.

Any means found suitable for holding the opposite ends of the straps to make an endless band thereof may be employed. As here illustrated, a ring member 50 has one end portion of the strap looped around one run thereof and anchored at 52'as by stitching. In cooperation with this ring 50 is provided a double ring unit or buckle 54 having a central or cross-bar 56; The buckle is preferably arranged as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5 with the opposite end of the strap portion threaded therethrough, thence looped around a run of the ring 50, and thence threaded again through the buckle to hold two surfaces of the strap material in bent face engaging relation illustrated in Fig. 5. It will be understood that any other type of means for securing or anchoring the ends of a flexible elongated strap together in predetermined adjustment may be employed.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the formation of the curved corners of the panels I0 and I2, particularly at the inner corners, i. e.,

at the corners at opposite ends of and adjacent to the score I6, are preferably substantially arouate, and, in the form illustrated, the radius of the arc is preferably equal to the spacing of the intermediate score 28 from the outer edge of the panel. Consequently, the curved corners I4 merge with the'edges parallel to the scores I6 adjacent to the score 28 which separates the panel wing portions 32 and 34. The formation of these edges of exact arcuate shape is not critical, but a tapering of the ends is important for purposes to be mentioned hereaften,

In the use of the device, assuming that the strap 48 has been fixedly anchored in such a position that the panels It and I2 may fold flat upon each other without restraint from the strap, and without looseness of the straps, the device is in condition for use. This collapsed arrangement of the device illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5 enables the device to be carried easily and conveniently and to be stored in a small space by reason of its flat condition.

When the device is to be used, the panels are swung to angularly displaced relation and the central portion 20 of the seat panel is placed upon the seat. The user then assumes a seated position and the back panel automatically accommodates itself to the body-of the user' but only Within certain limits. In other words, the limit of the angular displacement between the two panels from flat face engaging relation ,is approximately degrees, being substantially as illustrated in Fig. 2. In this connection it will be observed that the fact that the corner portions I4 adjacent to the score I6 are curved or tapered,

' accommodates the fitting of the wing panel portions of the backrest panel I2 over and upon the wing panel portions of the seat panel I0, as best illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. This results automatically from the extension of the parts to operative position and in such a manner that the straps serve to position each pf these panels in this erected position. Thus it will be observed from Fig. 1 that the wing panels 22 are permitted to extend upward slightly, that the panels 24 are inclined to slightly greater extent, and the terminal wing panels assume an almost upright or vertical position. The same relation of the seat, back and wing panels occurs with the panels 32 tilted angularly forwardly to a slight extent from the central panel 30, the wing panel 34 being inclined forwardly a still greater extent, and the terminal wing panels 36 approaching rightangled relation to the plane of the wing panel 36.

The device will accommodate itself somewhat to the attitude in which the user finds greatest comfort, and it will be observed that, inasmuch as the strap is not extensible, there is a direct relation between the overall width of the seat, on the one hand, and the angular relation between the panel parts 20 and 30 on the other hand. This relation is an inverse relation so that the wider the seat the less the angle, or the greater the angle the less the overall dimension of the seat. By providing the buckles the overall length of the strap can be adjusted by each user to that length which is most satisfactory to him. Thus thin people will adjust the straps to a lesser length than heavy or fat people, and, when properly adjusted in each instance, the desired support for the most comfortable posture will be effectively provided. It will be apparent that this support is primarily effected by the strap which passes under the seat and is held at that point, and passes at the small of the back and is held by the panel at that point. The portions of the straps which extend along the inner faces of the panels Ill and I2 are small in extent and therefore the user is protected from any uncomfortable pressure exerted by the straps. In other words, the rigid character of the panel material provides a large area of contact over which the force exerted by the strap is applied, so that discomfort as would occur if substantial portions of the strap pressed inwardly against the body is avoided.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it will be understood that changes may be made in the construction within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A portable back supporting device comprising a seat panel and a back panel pivotally connected together along a pivot axis and each having a transverse series of spaced slots formed therein, the end slots of each series each havin its center positioned on a line substantially equidistant from said pivot axis and the opposite free end margin of the panel in which it is formed each series of slots curving outwardly toward the free end margin of the panel with each intermediate slot of each series spaced closer to the free end margin of the panel in which it is formed than the slots in the same series located at'the ends of said series, and a flexible endless strap threaded through said slots and limiting rearward tilting of said back panel relative to said seat panel.

2. A portable back supporting device comprising a seat member and a back member pivotally connected together, each of said members including a central panel and at least one wing panel located at each side of such member and pivotally connected to the adjacent panel of the same member along the pivot axes substantially perpendicular to the pivot connection between said seat and back members, said members being connected together only at their central portions, each panel of each of said seat and back members having at least one slot therein intermediate its length, and an endless flexible strap threaded through said slots and limiting extension of said seat and back members from collapsed position.

3. A portable back supporting device as defined in claim 2, wherein the corners of said seat and back members at the portions constituting said wing panels are rounded.

4. A portable back supporting device as defined in claim 2, wherein said wing panels on each side of each member are more than one in number and at least the outermost wing panels of each member are tapered at the ends thereof adjacent to the other member.

5. A portable back supporting device as defined in claim 2, wherein said seat and back members are formed integrally from a rigid panel folded between the parts constituting said members.

6. A portable back supporting device as defined in claim 2, wherein said slots are arranged and said strap is so threaded that the" strap is positioned in engagement with the outer surfaces of said members at the central portion of the central panel of each member and at the side portions of each member between a slot on each outermost wing panel and the free edge thereof.

GEORGE E. WITZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,831,428 Sherman Nov. 10, 1931 2,107,880 Wilsdorf EE'eb. 8, 1938 2,457,978 Curran Jan. 4, 1949 

